File photoMore than 140 pounds of prescriptions drugs were dropped off at the Jackson Police Department and Michigan State Police post during an April take-back day.

JACKSON, MI — The Jackson Police Department and Michigan State Police post collected more than 140 pounds of prescription drugs during a recent take-back program.

The Jackson state police post collected about 45 pounds, and people turned in more than 100 pounds to the Jackson police station during a four-hour collection period on April 28.

"That just shows you that these days are needed," said state police 1st Lt. Michael Krumm, commander of the Jackson post. "You don't ever want these pills getting into the hands of people that shouldn't be taking them. The biggest thing is to get them off the streets."

The nexus between unused prescription drugs and drug abuse is becoming increasingly clear. Teenagers raid medicine cabinets in search of an easy high. Narcotics such as Vicodin and Oxycontin command up to $80 when sold on the street. Homes are sometimes broken into and prescription drugs are the only thing stolen, said Michigan State Police Trooper Dan Bowman.

How to properly dispose of prescription drugs

You don't have to wait for a scheduled take-back day to get rid of your
old prescriptions.

Don't flush them down the toilet, as they then end up
in the water supply and contribute to pollution.

Instead:

- Take the drugs out of their original containers

- Mix the drugs with something like cat litter or used coffee grounds

- Put the mixture in a disposable container with a lid like a margarine tub or sealable bag

- Throw the container in trash

- Remember to black out any personal information on containers before tossing them

Source: Jackson County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition

The recent haul of unused, unwanted or expired prescriptions drugs was the largest in Jackson, said Kelsey Haynes, prevention manager with the Jackson County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition. Past collection days have netted between about 20 and 70 pounds but never more than 100 pounds. The amount collected at the police station overwhelmed the department's scale, requiring the Drug Enforcement Administration to bring in a larger one.

"We're not surprised," Haynes said about the amount collected. "We're happy that people came and dropped those off."

She said it is great to know that 140 pounds are out of medicine cabinets and properly disposed of, "but think of what else is out there."

The April 28 collection day was a joint effort between the substance abuse coalition, state and city police and the DEA. The drugs will be incinerated, Bowman said.

There are no more collect days scheduled, by police and the substance abuse coalition are working to have a permanent drop-off box installed somewhere in the county. The Hillsdale Police Department already has a permanent box and receives about 10 pounds of drugs a month, Bowman said. A box will soon be installed at the Jonesville Police Department. Some local pharmacies, including the Grass Lake Pharmacy, have boxes for non-narcotic prescriptions, Bowman said. — Contact Aaron Aupperlee at aaupperl@mlive.com or (517) 262-2967.